The Effect of Livestock Industry Location on Rural Residential Propery Values

Introduction The livestock industry creates jobs and income in, mostly rural, communities and can be an important engine of economic growth and development (e.g., Seidl and Weiler, 2000). Animal agriculture can also generate impacts beyond the boundaries of the farm, ranch, or feedlot, including flies, odor, water pollution, farm vehicle traffic, and noise, for example. The impact of these potential positive and negative economic effects increases with human interaction. Recent structural change within the livestock industry has heightened concerns about the industry’s potential negative impacts.